Long-Term Risk for Secondary ADHD After Traumatic Brain Injury

Secondary attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children was more common after TBI than after orthopedic injury, with new onset occurring up to 7 years later.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been associated with risk for developing secondary attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (SADHD) in the short-term, but studies with longer follow-up are lacking. In addition, risk factors for developing SADHD are incompletely understood.

Researchers followed 187 children aged 3 to 7 years without prior ADHD who were admitted to one of four hospitals for either TBI (81 patients) or orthopedic injury (OI; control group; 106 patients). Incidence of SADHD and multiple possible risk factors were assessed by parental report at five follow-up visits (at 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, and approximately 3 years and 7 years after injury).

At final follow-up, SADHD was significantly more common in children with seve…

Reviewing Author

John D. Cowden, MD, MPH

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

John D. Cowden, MD, MPH

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Long-Term Risk for Secondary ADHD After Traumatic Brain Injury

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Reviewing Author